Zhu Tong only came to this homestay once at the beginning of the school year. And after that, he refused to enter and had only seen the gate from outside.
Standing in the courtyard again, the unique scenery would still make his eyes shine.
Shao Ming parked the bicycle behind him. Seeing him stunned in the yard, he stepped forward and asked, “Why don’t you go in?”
Zhu Tong turned his head and asked back, “Where are we going?”
Shao Ming: “…”
He sighed and stepped forward to lead the way.
There were not many suites in the homestay – there’s only four suites in total. One of them is for one occupant, one for two occupants, and there are two luxury suites upstairs.
Zhutong booked the single suite when school started.
Being brought into his homestay by Shao Ming, Zhu Tong glanced at the suite with two bedrooms and one living room, and asked in confusion, “You… live alone?”
Shao Ming: “Otherwise?”
Zhu Tong: “Why does one person rent a two-bedroom suite?”
’Won’t the rent be much more expensive?’
Shao Ming looked at Zhu Tong, who looked like a curious child. With raised eyebrows, he teased, “Maybe I’m waiting for its other owner?”
Zhu Tong turned to look at him in surprise. ‘How long is he planning to stay here?’
Shao Ming was only in high school now, what kind of “another owner” did he get in high school?
–Unless he had puppy love.
But Shao Ming doesn’t look like someone who would fall in love early.
His eyes were too “innocent”, Shao Ming felt a little helpless. He honestly answered him, “Because the living room of the double suite is bigger.”
Zhu Tong immediately put on an “Ah, I see” expression.
Shao Ming: “…”
He felt complicated emotions washed over him. He pointed in one direction, “The bathroom is over there, go wash.”
Zhu Tong nodded. Then he abruptly turned around. “I didn’t bring any toiletries.”
Shao Ming casually offered, “Use mine first, there is a spare set in the bathroom cabinet.”
“…Ah, okay.”
In fact, Zhu Tong wanted to take a bath. But as time did not allow him, he did not bring a change of clothes.
Walking into the bathroom, Zhu Tong looked at the environment habitually.
There was only one bathroom in the double suite, but the place was spacious enough. The shower room was separated by floor-to-ceiling glass, the washbasin was cleaned very well, the floor was dry and clean, and there was no dirty laundry in sight.
Zhu Tong went to the sink to turn on the water and looked at his face reflected in the mirror.
He looked at it for a while, and felt that his complexion was much better.
It seems that the system reward is really useful. But how did the favorability increase?
He was in so much pain last night that he was unconscious, and he didn’t seem to have done anything to increase his favorability.
–Plus, his stomach was so painful, he should look ugly when writhing about, right?
‘Was it out of sympathy?’ Zhu Tong shook his head, too lazy to think about it.
It was already late for the morning self-study, so they just decided to skip it altogether.
He took out Shao Ming’s spare set of toiletries from the bathroom cabinet, and quickly washed up and left the bathroom.
Shao Ming just warmed up the porridge and served it on the table. When he saw the door of the bathroom opened, he asked, “Have you finished washing? Come and eat.”
Zhu Tong nodded. “Yes.”
Handing the spoon to Zhu Tong, Shao Ming looked at him and asked casually, “How is it? Is the bathroom up to your standard?”
Zhu Tong replied, “It’s good.”
Shao Ming nodded. “Good, then.”
Zhu Tong: “?”
‘What is good?’
Before he could speak, Shao Ming had already sat down opposite him. His hair was not messy, and it looked like he already washed it and styled it up.
‘When did he do that? Before going to the hospital to bring him breakfast? It wasn’t even seven o’clock, when did he get up? When did he sleep last night?’
Zhu Tong wanted to ask him, but he didn’t know how to say it. Should he thank him or apologize first?
How much trouble did he cause him yesterday?
As his mind was muddled with many thoughts, he didn’t pay attention to the food. He spooned a mouthful of shredded chicken porridge into the corner of his mouth.
“Be careful, it’s hot…”
“…”
The warning was a second slower. Zhu Tong suddenly shrank his hands, his body trembled slightly, but there was no next injury.
Shao Ming looked at him, feeling worried. “Are you all right?”
Zhu Tong raised his head stiffly and said, “It’s hot.”
Shao Ming: “…”
‘You don’t look like you’ve been burned. Is your reaction just slow or is the pain tolerable?’
Shao Ming asked, “Do you know what the average person’s reaction is to being burned?”
Zhu Tong: “…what?”
“Sticking out tongue to dissipate heat.”
“…”
Zhu Tong was at a loss for a moment, then suddenly stuck out the tip of his tongue a little and held it between his lips.
Shao Ming was stunned.
Zhu Tong quickly retracted the tip of his tongue, “So?”
Shao Ming: “…”
Zhu Tong did it seriously. He commented, “It doesn’t seem to be useful.”
–Simply put, it still hurts.
Shao Ming smiled helplessly, got up and poured him a glass of water. “Keep cold water in your mouth for a while… The porridge is still very hot, eat it slowly.”
Zhu Tong took a sip of water, picked up the spoon again, and whispered, “We’re already late.”
Shao Ming didn’t hear very clearly. “What?”
Zhu Tong repeated it for extra clarity. “We are late for early self-study, so let’s eat quickly.”
Shao Ming: “…”
Does this person remember that he was in the hospital last night in pain to death?
Luo Suo was absolutely right when he said he was “disabled yet strong.”
Shao Ming could only say helplessly said, “I have asked the teacher for leave, you don’t have to go to school this morning.”
Zhu Tong wondered, very genuinely. “But the monthly exam is coming soon.”
Shao Ming looked at him for a while, saw that he was in good spirits, and asked, “Want to go back to school?”
Zhu Tong nodded.
Shao Ming smiled, “Okay, let’s go back to school after eating.”
Zhu Tong suddenly cheered up, “Okay.”
He lowered his head to scoop the porridge, of course he didn’t forget to blow it this time.
After finishing the meal and tidying up the table, Shao Ming told him to take medicine again, and the two of them went out to go back to school.
Zhu Tong walked in front, and suddenly turned around and said “thank you” when he left the courtyard.
Shao Ming asked, “Didn’t you thank me when you were in the hospital?”
He bent over to push the bicycle, while Zhu Tong stopped and waited for him, and said, “Thank you at the hospital for taking care of me last night.”
“Oh, what are you thanking me for now?”
Zhu Tong looked at the courtyard of the homestay. “Now, I thanked you for helping me hide from Uncle Liu last night, and buying me breakfast and lending me your bathroom.”
He listed them one by one. Shao Ming had never seen someone as serious as him before. He raised his head and wanted to make fun of him, but when he saw Zhu Tong’s sincere and serious face, he lost his teasing words.
He pushed the bicycle with both hands and pondered, “What do you think of this homestay?”
Zhu Tong’s had a very standard answer. “Very good.”
“Look,” Shao Ming said with a straight face, “This homestay is very close to the school.”
“…”
Zhu Tong nodded hesitantly.
Shao Ming added, “The environment here is good, and the landlady is also good. You can stay, surf the Internet, and can cook by yourself. The conditions are not worse than the hotel, right?”
Zhu Tong subconsciously nodded again, not quite understanding what he meant.
Shao Ming finally got to the point, “Have you ever thought about moving out of the hotel…”
“Young Master!”
A very resentful voice interrupted his roommate invitation.
Shao Ming: “…”
Zhu Tong heard the voice and looked towards the door. Before he could see the person clearly, he had already been pulled out of the courtyard gate. Uncle Liu took him and looked at him all over.
Zhu Tong finally found the opportunity to speak. “Uncle Liu, I’m fine.”
Uncle Liu ignored him. After confirming that he was okay, turned his head to glare at the young man who followed behind pushing his bicycle.
Shao Ming looked at him with an innocent look.
Uncle Liu said, “Did you answer the phone last night?”
Shao Ming nodded and smiled. “It’s me.”
Uncle Liu glared at him fiercely.
With his unilateral tension, Zhu Tong couldn’t help but stand in front of Shao Ming and said, “Uncle Liu, last night I…”
“Why didn’t you answer the phone last night, Young Master? How could you not answer my call? How could you go to sleep at someone else’s house? How could you not call me if you didn’t go back?”
Zhu Tong was bombarded with multiple questions. Even if he cried, he wouldn’t be able to avoid answering any of them.
Zhu Tong: “I…”
Why doesn’t he answer the phone?
Of course it’s because he couldn’t!
But Zhu Tong never lied much since he was a child, so he was lost for words. After a pause, he replied, “Actually, I stayed at his house yesterday so that he could tutor me…”
“Then why don’t you answer my call? It’s just tutoring, right?”
“…”
Uncle Liu called him many, many times. Zhu Tong also knew that he must have been frightened and worried all night.
“His phone was on mute,” Shao Ming suddenly stepped forward behind him. His chest rested on Zhu Tong’s shoulder, and he explained to Uncle Liu with a smile, “He was taking a shower, and I only saw your call later.”
“Then later, why didn’t the Young Master call me back…” Uncle Liu trailed off, noticing something. He then turned to look at Zhu Tong in disbelief, “Young Master, you took a shower at his house?!”
“…”
The streets in the early morning were very quiet, but because Uncle Liu had been suppressing his worry all night, it was ready to erupt. He had used up almost all of his lung capacity, and his voice was clear and loud.
Zhu Tong seemed to see a few curious passersby sticking out of the opposite residential building.
He suddenly had a headache.
Shao Ming said something about his opinion of his bathroom for a reason. Is he the kind of guy who just takes a shower in someone else’s house?
–But there seems to be no better excuse than taking a shower.
Zhu Tong sighed and said, “It’s true Uncle Liu, we are about to take the monthly exam. I did not do well in the last test, so I wanted to cram. He has good grades in school, so he’s a good candidate to be my tutor. If you don’t believe me, go to school and ask the teacher.”
Uncle Liu: “…”
Of course Uncle Liu knew that Shao Ming’s academic performance was good. He already secretly investigated those at the day Zhu Tong was abducted to the riverside.
He was, in all truths, a student with stellar grades.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t really let the Young Master stay at “other people’s house” for one night.
“Young Master,” Uncle Liu said, “It’s good to want to study, but your body…”
“I’m in good health!” Zhu Tong cut him mid-speech, “Look, aren’t I feeling much better today?”
Uncle Liu looked at his face seriously and was slightly startled. He does look much better.
Uncle Liu frowned again and said, “Then you can’t either…”
“I see, I’ll call you later,” Zhu Tong immediately said, so Uncle Liu couldn’t continue to argue, “I promise.”
Uncle Liu: “…”
Uncle Liu compromised a bit. He glanced at Shao Ming and then at Zhu Tong, “Then how long are you going to study?”
Zhu Tong: “?”
How long is the tutoring?
Before Zhu Tong could react, Shao Ming said, “It is estimated that it will last until the monthly exam is finished.”
Zhu Tong looked at Shao Ming again, nodded hesitantly and said, “Well, after the monthly exam.”
Uncle Liu: “…”
After another moment of silence, Uncle Liu sighed and said, “I will bring what you need before noon.”
Zhu Tong: ??
What are you doing with his stuff?
Shao Ming politely said, “Then Uncle Liu will have to work hard.”
Uncle Liu had mixed feelings in his heart. With a sigh followed by a hum, he turned around.
Shao Ming smiled as he watched him leave.
Zhu Tong: “…”
After a momentary pause, he became puzzled. “What did he mean by moving my things over?”
It’s not like he’s not going back.
Shao Ming was already pushing his bicycle towards the school. “Don’t tell me you will only study for one day?”
Zhu Tong innocently answered, “I can always go back after the tutoring session.”
Shao Ming stopped and looked at him. Zhu Tong looked back at him, becoming even more confused.
The taller youth already had a plan. “I think we can make a fake show.”
–Turning that lie into reality.
Zhu Tong: “What kind of fake show?”
Shao Ming asked him, “Do you want to do well in the monthly exam?”
Zhu Tong nodded firmly. “I want to.”
Shao Ming: “Are you sure you can achieve that?”
Zhu Tong: “…”
Honestly, not much.
“So I’ll tutor you,” Shao Ming made it sound so simple. “Otherwise, you stayed overnight at my house for tutoring for one day, but for the next few days you went back. Wouldn’t that make Uncle Liu think that my tutoring skills are poor and I didn’t take good care of you?”
“…”
“I worked hard to take care of you all night, and you have the heart to put me in such an unkind place?”
–Isn’t this just a sign of ungratefulness?
Zhu Tong was a little confused by him.
But, he received a lot of care from Shao Ming yesterday, and he definitely didn’t want Uncle Liu to continue to misunderstand him.
Shao Ming’s worries were well-founded, but he always felt that something was wrong.
“Okay, come up, we’ll be late if we don’t leave now,” he said as he stepped onto the bicycle and indicated the position of the back seat.
Zhu Tong: “…”
‘Aren’t we already late?’
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